By Charles Igwe
Pope Francis, known for his warm and unexpected phone calls, continued this tradition by making a touching video call to a 95-year-old grandmother in India. The call, which took place on September 2, was a delightful surprise for Sosamma Antony, the grandmother of Monsignor George Koovakad, a member of the Vatican’s Secretariat of State and part of the Pope’s travel team.
During a previous visit to Canada in July 2022, Monsignor Koovakad had informed the Pope that his grandmother was battling COVID-19. Since then, Pope Francis had inquired about her health regularly and expressed his desire to speak with her.
The video call occurred at 12:45 p.m. local time in Kerala, India. Father Thomas Kallukalam answered the call, and Pope Francis requested to speak with Sosamma Antony. The heartwarming conversation, facilitated by Koovakad’s translation between Malayalam (the local language) and English and Italian, lasted for approximately four minutes.
Pope Francis, who has shown great compassion for the elderly and the ill, enquired about Sosamma’s health and praised her for raising her grandson. In response, Sosamma promised to pray for the Pope, to which he humbly expressed his need for those prayers, adding, “This job is crazy!” The video call was a touching moment for all involved.
The call was arranged quickly, with the family receiving notice just a few hours before. Sosamma was overwhelmed by the unexpected call, and after the conversation, she cherished the blessing of speaking with the Pope.
Pope Francis’s kindness and personal outreach continue to touch hearts around the world, exemplifying his dedication to connecting with people in meaningful ways.
